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Monday, June 25, 2012

MARK TWAIN'S KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL WRITING

{"There are keys to success in writing.

I did not learn them early.

I did not learn them all at once.

They came to me like the passing of a kidney stone --

with time and with pain."}

Roland has been going on about keys to writing success.

But who's the beloved literary genius here? Me, that's who!

So I am going to pass on a few of those keys. Not in any particular order -- just as they occur to me, much like I wrote my autobiography.


THE KEYS :

#1) Write without pay until someone pays you.

In other words, write because you love it, not for thoughts of wealth. Only a very few authors ever are able to leave their day job.

Do this and you will relax and write with confidence. The reader will sense this, and your novel will be more interesting to your reader.

Write only about what interests you. The reader will be infected with your enthusiasm and keep turning the pages.

#2) Don't say the old lady screamed.

Drag her out into the scene and have her caterwaul herself. Telling the reader that a grandmother was stabbed does not near involve him as showing her stabbed.

#3) Never say in writing what you couldn't comfortably say in conversation.

Be natural in your writing. It will add the feel of reality to your novel. Put an acorn of truth in each of your characters.

The lonely weariness of a single father will grab the heart of the reader. In the next chapter when he robs the bank, the reader will be on his side.

#4) Periods are not ugly --

so do not put them so far away from the start of your sentence. Make your sentences and paragraphs short. Do not make your writing blunt instruments of prose.

Rather, write with the ear, not the eye. Make every sentence sound good.

And for that you need a well-trained sense of word-rhythm. Train your ear by reading your pages aloud as you finish them.

#5) The more you explain it, the more I do not understand it.

Be clear. Clear writing comes from clear thinking. Know logic. Know the subjects your characters do. Know the law if your hero is a lawyer.

Make sure each sentence could only mean what you wished to express.

And Lord Almighty, use short, direct words. Do not IMPLEMENT promises. KEEP them.

Remember that readers cannot know your mind. Do not forget to tell them exactly what they need to know to understand you. Speaking English to a Frenchman will not get you very far. I know. I tried.

#6) Write as if you were dying --

Indeed, write as if your readers were dying.

And in a way, both you and they are. You just do not know your exact shelf life.

They don't have time for all those long, dreary paragraphs about Aunt Edna's digestion. What tale could you spin to a dying person that would not enrage by its shallow triviality?

That thought will prune many needless ramblings on your part.

And please no adjectives to tell the reader how to feel. Instead of telling us the thing is "terrible," describe it so that we'll be terrified.

You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers "Please, will you do my job for me."

#7) Do not hoard.

Give each paragraph all the dynamite you possess. Do not save a "good bit" for later. If you do, the reader may become bored and wander off before your novel explodes.

Do not worry. More dynamite will occur to you -- if you give each scene all the wit and heart you have.

Those are seven keys to success in writing. There are more, of course.

But too many keys jangling inside your heads will make such a commotion that you won't be able to think straight, much less see where they apply to you and your novel.
****


12 comments:

  1. Ghost of Mark Twain here. Dang it, children. Do not make me go out and haunt you. You folks write me some potent comments, you hear? I might bring the ghost of H P Lovecraft with me for spite, don't you know?

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  2. Oh, the pressure! I don't want to be haunted by Mark Twain's ghost!

    Great tips, Mark. *backs away slowly*

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  3. Talli:
    Mark sends a wink your way. He always was a ladies' man. He assures me he would be a polite ghost around you. H P Lovecraft, as ever, remains withdrawn on the subject. :-)

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  4. Crap, if I discover a good bit, I use it right away!
    Excellent tips. Number three holds many meanings.

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  5. Alex:
    Mark applauds you for using the good bit right away. No hoarding the dynamite! And doesn't Number Three hold many meanings?

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  6. I downloaded essays of Mark Twain a couple years ago...and haven't 'cracked it open.'

    This great post made me pull it up on my Kindle. I will start reading it tonight. Thanks for the nudge.

    - Mac

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  7. Mac:
    Of all Twain's writings, I enjoy his essays and letters most. These tid-bits are gleaned from both those sources.

    The ghost of Mark Twain appreciates you reading his essays. The humble soul that he is, Twain knows that you will enjoy them! :-)

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  8. love twain & everything he said and did
    so practical and logical, yet so outstanding and amazing!
    thanks for these yummy tidbits!

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  9. Okay. Let Mark know I'm printing this out for reference. I've tried to do all this in my writing. I think I've finally succeeded, somewhat.

    Roland, dear friend, you're the second blogger who has said WP ate his comment (yes, both male bloggers). After getting somewhat back to blogging and reading some other comments on the subject, I think it's Blogger and not WP who's the culprit!

    As for End of Days -- I bought it, I bought it! Now I just have to read it, and so many other books I've bought that I want to read! But should you want to email me -- bestann07 at gmail dot com

    Oh, you say you're so tired from your blood run. We are on the same rail track, I think. That feels like a metaphor of life -- of MY life. And yours, etc. etc. But keep on the track writing your wonderful book!!

    Ann Best, Memoir Author

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  10. Tara:
    You've the evening of a lonely ghost. Ouch! The ghost of Mark Twain refuses to admit to being lonely it seems!

    KarenG:
    #1 will get across many weeks of rejection that is true!!

    Ann:
    Thanks for buying END OF DAYS. There are 13 beautiful illustrations inside it. The chapter with Hibbs has the cover art of THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS at its beginning.

    I think it is the rivalry between Blogger and WP that keeps eating comments coming from Blogger. Sigh.

    Thank you for the support of my writing. May the rest of this week be easier on us all!! Roland

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  11. I wonder if Theodor Seuss Geisel used these keys...

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